Holden to seek audit of Wachusett finances

Selectmen unanimously voted to request a state audit of the Wachusett Regional School District finances, despite the claims of a school committee member that the audit is unnecessary.

“There is a great deal of misunderstanding about what happened,” school committee member Margaret Watson said. “There is no missing money — all the bills were paid. All of our expenses were perfectly legitimate.”

Selectman Robert Lavigne disagreed. “It doesn’t look like anyone really knows where the money went. Do you have $1.2 million in extra supplies?”

Before the audit can be performed, it must first be approved by the state auditor’s office.

“There’s a cost associated with it, and I’m not sure the town wants to pay the cost,” Mr. Lavigne said.

Mr. Lavigne suggested that the board reach out to the boards of selectmen in other region towns to see if they are interested in pursuing the audit and perhaps in sharing the cost.

“If we’re going to do it, then we should expedite it,” Selectman Mark Ferguson said.